Then:

“The Independent columnist’s award-winning work included pieces on a cruise with American rightwingers, a report on Saudi Arabia, multiculturalism and women, and another on France’s “secret war” in the Central African Republic. Johann Hari’s work combines courageous reporting and forceful writing with honest analysis,” said Orwell Prize judge Albert Scardino, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.” More…

Now:

“The Orwell Prize became aware of allegations concerning Johann Hari, the winner of the Orwell Prize for Journalism 2008, on Monday 27th June. (Johann Hari has also been shortlisted for the Prize in the past, and entered this year’s Prize.) Given the seriousness of the allegations that have been made, we feel we have no choice other than to investigate further.

The Council of the Orwell Prize takes the integrity and reputation of the Orwell Prize, and the rigour, fairness and transparency of the entry and judging process, very seriously. As stated on Tuesday 28th June, there is a process to follow in such situations, which we have been following since Monday and continue to pursue  …

Since 2008 the entry process has been made more robust still. The governance of the Prize has been reformed, and all entrants are required to sign a disclaimer, declaring that the submitted work ‘is wholly or substantially that of the named author or authors, and does not contain any plagiarised or unacknowledged material.”

If they want a proper investigation then they should allow some open sourced scrutiny of the pieces. Seems to have worked so far…

As his ball and chain marched, Miliband went to Birmingham for the relative comfort of the Local Government Association conference this afternoon. Before telling them that both the strikers and the government were wrong, Red Ed demanded his own private green room, kitted out with tea, coffee, biscuits and juice for his seven strong entourage. Guido’s LGA eyes and ears also chuckled at the security guard outside the room. When the Prime Minister went up to speak to the conference on Tuesday he shared a green room with the other speakers, as have all the other cabinet ministers who dropped by. Nothing’s too good for the workers.

UPDATE: Team Ed got in touch to argue Pickles was in the same room. Team Pickles say he only went in to watch Ed’s speech on the telly after he had vacated. Take it outside lads…

There is one group of public sector workers with gold plated pensions who don’t seem to be suffering. If “we are all in it together” maybe the government should take a look at their pension entitlements, which will make private sector workers drool with envy. Compare these two average pensions within the public sector; after a career of risking his life for his country a soldier gets a £7,987 pension, after a life of wind-baggery combined with drinking in subsidised bars and fiddling expenses the average MP gets a £21,364 pension. If they become Ministers the sky is the limit. Multi-millionaire John Prescott’s pension pot has £1.5 million in it. Gold plating at an unaffordable level.

For those in the private sector who had their pensions disastrously raided by Gordon Brown, wrecking Britain’s private pension system, today’s strikes might leave them wondering if they should have gone on strike in protest at his 1997 stealth tax raid. Taxes that Gordon used to splurge on the now striking public sector. Small businesses don’t go on strike, usually owner-run or family businesses, staffed by people who are friends and family, who would they strike against? Today is the last day of the month, many small business owners will be struggling to making enough money to cover the payroll, totting up the VAT they collect for the government and the taxes they have to pay for merely employing people. Imagine if they, the taxpaying backbone of the economy, went on a taxpayers’ strike. It could lead to great changes…

Guido has wondered in the past what exactly Alison McGovern does as Gordon Brown’s PPS. He never turns up or speaks, so why the dubious honour? Given McGovern is pregnant, speculation is mounting as to who will fill in for her when she goes on maternity leave.

If she’s not replaced then questions will arise about her onerous and demanding role.

Backbenchers should form an orderly queue to make their pitch for the job.

With nearly 200 thumbs up, the winner of last Friday’s caption contest is Yeah It’s Me Again with:

“UK Army provide boiled egg to go with soldiers…”

Guido thought there were funnier ones, but it’s the will of the people. Get in touch Mr Yeah for your prize of two tickets to see Yes, Prime Minister which returns to the West End from 6 July at the Apollo Theatre. Guido saw it last time round and it’s very funny.

The Indy have a hilarious Comres poll in which 2,000 voters were shown pictures of various members of the Shadow Cabinet. Unsurprisingly the majority of the bland B-team were not recognised, but most damning is the facet that one in four people identified Ed as David. You might wonder what exactly he has been doing since September…

Simon Kelner said to Johann Hari…

‘Those who live by Twitter, die by Twitter.’